Improvement in crutches



G. FRANTZ.,

Crutches.

Patented Feb. 17, 1874.

forming the shaft et' the crutch.

, about t'our inches apart, and parallel the greater UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

(lrEORGE Fll-ANTZ, OF CLARKE COUNTY, OHIO.

lMPROVEMENT IN CRUTCHES.

i Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,491, (lated Februarj1 17, 1874 application filed April 19, 1873.

vented certain Improvements in Grutches, ot-

which the following isaspeeitcationz- A M y invention relates to astroug, durable,

Yand convenient crutch, capable ot' ready adjustment in its length; also, in the handle part to suit the height ot' the person using it, and to lengthen it when worn away.

Figure 1 is an elevation ot' 1n y improved crutch. l? ig. 2 is a sectional view of the head part above line m m, with parts ot' side bars. Figs. 3 and 4 are whole and sectional views of springs al u.

A is the. head, which is hollowed out, padded, and covered with leather or other suitable ina.- terial, in the usual manner. This rests on springs of rubber ay a below these is a crosspiece, c. A screw-bolt, b, passes up through the center of the crosspiece b into the head A; or, preferably, the screw-bolt may be put down through the head from the top, and secured by a nut, which can be let in the under side of b. 'lhe object of this manner of attaching the head is to give it a irin and even set on the springs a a, so that they may have suticient rooin for coni pression when the weight ot' the person is thrown onthe crutch; also, to allow the head A to be easily taken ott' and put on, when 'nceessarjv to renew the springs, or for other purposes. a a are the side bars, rlhese are portion ot' their length, being be'nt together at their lower ends, 011 which is formed a sleeve, s, through which the central shaft or foot-piecel works snugly. A screw-thread is cut for some length on the upper end ot' B, (which is ot wood,) and it passes up through the lower cross-piece d. On each side of the latter are jam-nuts c and c', for adjusting the height of the crutch. lhe end of B also enters the nut a, which is hung on the lower ends ofthe bent wooden rod, which forms the handle h by the turn on its upper part, which is in the form ot' an inverted stirruj'). Handle h is padded and covered with leather to ina-ke it easy on the hand, and i i' are sleeves or bands, which are attached to the handle-bow 7i, and slide up and down on the side bars a a', when the handle moved up or down. This can be done by loosening the upper jam-nut e and letting 1 remain; then, by turningB to the right, the screw will draw down the handle l1., nia-king the distance greater from it to the top of the crutch. When itis desired to raise the handle, the lower jam-nut c is loosened and the screw-shaft B turned to the left. The saine operation can be performed, in either raising and lowering the handle or lengthening or shortening the crutch, by loosening one jam-nut and turning the other, and vice versa.. The lower cross-piece d has no thread in it, but simpl y a hole sufficiently large for the eX- tei-nal diameter of screw of B, so that by turning the jain-nuts c or e', the shaft B passes through d without turning on its axis. The lower end of B may be tipped with rubber or arm edwith a steel point and terrule, as desired.

Other equivalent devices for adjusting the several parts may be used, such as grooving the side bars a a, and-.con st-ructing the handlepiece hl with l'irqections to work up and down in them, so as to produce like results.

I elaiin as my invention- The adjustable parts consisting of handle h, sleeves yi 1T, or their equivalents, nut a, janinuts e and of, screw-shaft B, and sleeve s, as and for the purpose hereinbetore set forth.

GEORGE FRAN TZ.

Attest:

B. C. GoNvERsii, A. BRADFORJ). 

